12/04/2025
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12/04/2025
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Candidates running to be Poland’s next president meet to discuss key issues to the country in a debate overshadowed by political bickering in Konskie, Poland, on April 11. (AP)
WARSAW, Poland, April 12, (AP): Bickering and chaos overshadowed a presidential debate in Poland on Friday evening as eight candidates met to discuss existential matters for this country on NATO’s eastern flank — including fears of Russia over its war in Ukraine and concerns about President Donald Trump’s commitment to Europe’s security.
Poland is voting on May 18 to elect a new president as the outgoing leader, Andrzej Duda, nears the end of his second and final five-year term. If no candidate wins at least 50% of the vote, a runoff will take place June 1 between the top two. The heated discussions on display Friday underscored the deep division in this nation of 38 million.
The debate was held in Konskie, a provincial town of 32,000 in central Poland seen as the kind of place crucial to winning an election in a country with many rural, conservative voters. It had the appearance of an unscripted, chaotic show.
In the end, there were in fact two debates — the first one took place outdoors and was broadcast by two right-wing stations with rowdy onlookers whistling and booing candidates they didn’t like. A left-wing candidate, Joanna Senyszyn, arrived late, joining the others about 20 minutes after the event began. Then the candidates moved to an indoor studio for the main debate, broadcast by the traditional broadcasters, TVN, TVP and Polsat.
Some clarity came across. The candidates were asked about whether they want a return to compulsory conscription in the army. The frontrunners said they don’t. They were asked what a president should do to ensure energy stability in Poland, which has been trying to free itself from Russian energy. They variously stressed support for renewable sources, nuclear energy or relying more on Poland’s own coal. Only one said he supported using Russian energy.
Until the last moment it wasn’t clear if the debate would happen at all, or in what format, amid arguments over who should be included and who not, and over which of the television broadcasters should be allowed to transmit the debate.
